Chapter 6 - THE LAST LIVESTREAM
Claire knew she needed time.
Elizabeth lived forty minutes away.
Claire needed Ryan and Diane in one place when she arrived.
She also needed proof.
Not suspicion.
Not torn bills.
Not edited videos.
Proof.
So when Diane announced another livestream, Claire did something neither expected.
She agreed.
Ryan watched her carefully.
"Why?"
Claire shrugged.
"You said we need the money."
His suspicion softened.
Diane smiled.
"Finally."
Claire almost smiled back.
The phone was mounted.
The camera faced the sofa.
Ryan stood where he always stood.
Cane in hand.
Diane checked the comments.
Claire sat with one arm protecting her belly.
Before the stream began, she noticed a second phone on top of the dryer.
Ryan's personal phone.
Unlocked.
A banking notification flashed.
Transfer received.
18,000.00.
Claire's heart stopped.
Not old money.
A recent transfer?
Or a transfer history notification?
She couldn't tell from a distance.
The stream began.
Diane instantly changed personality.
Her voice became gentle.
"Thank you all for joining us."
Claire looked at her.
The hypocrisy nearly made her laugh.
Ryan moved into frame.
"We've had another difficult day."
Claire stayed silent.
Comments appeared.
Is Claire okay?
How is the baby?
Sending prayers.
Ryan glanced at Claire.
That was the signal.
Look scared.
She didn't.
Ryan struck the sofa with the cane.
Claire flinched anyway.
The sound was too close to her bruised side.
Diane whispered through her teeth.
"Cry louder. The idiots donate more when you scream."
Claire stared at her.
The sentence landed differently now.
No pretense remained.
No family.
No bills.
No help.
Just customers.
Ryan raised the cane.
"Quit whining and earn your damn keep."
Claire stood.
Something snapped.
She seized the cane.
Ryan tried to hold on.
Claire twisted with both hands.
He lost his grip.
She drove the shaft against his forearms.
Ryan stumbled.
Then Claire struck low into his thigh.
He dropped to one knee.
Diane rushed forward with the livestream phone.
Claire smacked it from her hand.
It hit the carpet.
She grabbed Diane's cardigan and shoved her backward into the armchair.
"Come near my baby again and I'll wreck both of you."
Ryan stared at Claire.
He had never seen her like that.
Neither had Claire.
The livestream phone remained active on the carpet.
Claire backed toward the laundry area.
Then Ryan's phone vibrated on the dryer.
The screen lit.
This time Claire saw the full message.
Dawson Media Holdings.
Current balance: 18,437.62.
Below it was a recent deposit record.
She stepped closer.
Ryan saw where she was looking.
He lunged.
Claire swung the cane across his chest.
He stopped.
Then the front door opened.
Elizabeth entered holding the envelope.
The scene unfolded exactly as Claire would replay it for months.
The eighteen thousand.
The signed agreement.
The livestream comments.
The seventy-thousand-dollar donation estimate.
Ryan trying to escape.
Diane trying to hide the phone.
Then came the second document.
Elizabeth pulled it from the envelope.
Ryan recognized it.
Claire did not.
"What is that?"
Elizabeth looked at her daughter.
"I went through the paperwork before I drove here."
She held up the page.
"This is a copy of the authorization Ryan asked me to sign."
Ryan said, "Elizabeth, don't."
Claire turned.
"Authorization for what?"
Elizabeth's face twisted with guilt.
"He told me it would allow him to speak with the specialist if there was an emergency."
Claire's stomach dropped.
Elizabeth continued.
"But that is not what it says."
Ryan moved forward.
Claire raised the cane.
"Stay there."
Elizabeth handed Claire the document.
It contained Claire's name.
Her address.
Her medical insurance information.
And a signature that looked like Claire's.
Claire stared.
"I didn't sign this."
Elizabeth whispered, "I know."
The document authorized Ryan to act as Claire's representative in fundraising and medical-related financial decisions.
Claire looked at him.
"You forged my signature."
Ryan's eyes hardened.
"I signed for you because you were sick."
"I was not sick."
"You were overwhelmed."
"I was pregnant."
Diane suddenly stood.
"This is ridiculous."
Elizabeth turned on her.
"You knew?"
Diane said nothing.
Claire looked at the livestream phone.
Thousands of people were still watching.
She walked over.
Picked it up.
Turned the camera toward herself.
Ryan panicked.
"Claire, don't."
She looked directly into the screen.
"My name is Claire Dawson."
Ryan moved toward her.
Elizabeth blocked him.
Claire continued.
"My baby is healthy."
Comments exploded.
"I did not authorize my husband to raise money by claiming otherwise."
Ryan shouted her name.
Claire ignored him.
"If you donated because you believed I was dying or my baby was dying, I am sorry."
Her voice broke.
"I didn't know."
Ryan grabbed the phone.
The stream ended.
Too late.
May you like
The truth had gone out live.
And thousands had seen Ryan try to stop her.
